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Letters PatentNa 90,803, dated June 1, 1869.

SELF-ADJUSTING-SWITCH FOR STREET-CARS.

Tho Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making paxt of thesame.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. YANTIS, ofBrownsville, in the county of Saline, and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Self- AdjnstingRailroad-Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art tomake and use the same,reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which'- lFigure 1 represents a portion of a railroad-track to' which my improvedswitch has been attached.

Figure 2 is a view of the under side 'of my improved switch-block.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. e

My invention has for its object to improve the construction offswitches01 turnouts, so that they may be self-operating, not requiring theservice of a switchman, a'nd, at the same time, may be safe andreliable, being always in proper position; and

It consists in the switch-blocks, constructed and operating in themanner hereinafter more fully described.

Arepresents the rails of the main track B represents the rails of theswitch-track, upon which the cars pass when moving from right to left;and A O represents the rails of the track upon which the cars pass whenmoving from left to right.A

Each rail'is notched where the rails of tbe other track cross it, toallow the flanges of the wheels to conveniently cross, as shown in g. 1.

In the angle where the branch tracks meet the main track, is pivoted ablock, D, which is made in about pose set forth. v

the form shown in the drawings, varying slightly, ac-l cording as thecurve is more or less sharp.

The blocks D rest upon and are pivoted to bed-plates or washers securelyattached to suitable supports.

The blocks D are provided with ciled or other springs, E, the form orkind of which is immaterial, and which are designed to be so connectedwith the blocks D as to hold the said blocks in position to guide thecars to the right-hand switch-track, as they appreach the switch fromeither direction.

As the cars passfrom the switch to the main track, in either direction,the flanges -of the wheels strike against the block D, and push itaround into-the position shown in red in iig. l, allowing the cars topass on unobstructed.

As soon as the block D has been released fromv the car-wheel, the spn'ngE revolves it back to its former position.

With switches constructed in accordance with-this invention, noswitchman is required, and, atthe same time it will be impossible forthe cars to take the wrong direction, thus making them entirely safe.

Having thus described my invention,

vWhat I 4claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isj Thepivoted switch-block D, constructed substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and provided with a coiledor equivalent spring, incombination with the rails of the main and switch-tracks, as and for thepur- WILLIAM L. YANTIS. Witnesses:

MASON BROWN,

G. S. REMBEBT.

